By Lauren Sedgley
Leicester Lions kicked off their 2017 speedway campaign with a fantastic 48-42 win over the Swindon Robins on Saturday night, April 1.
The opening night of the season saw the newly revamped Lions team secure their first three league point win at home against a strong looking Swindon team.
Eight heats into the overall fifteen saw the Lions eight points up on the Robins with bumper crowds witnessing very competitive racing from both teams.
Crowds building before the racing got underwayIn a statement released on Twitter by the Leicester Lions, Jim Lynch, team manager said: “We were delighted to earn the win; it was an important one for the club with everything that’s gone on over the winter.
“The thing I’ve tried to get over to everyone is that we need to concentrate our efforts on winning as many meetings we can at home.”
The Lions’ triumph over the Robins was the first time that the team has won their opening meeting since joining the top-flight league, now rebranded as the Premiership.
Moving on from last season, the Lions saw only one rider return to their septet in the form of Josh Auty.
Kim Nilsson, Josh Bates, Danny King, Kacper Gomolski, and Premiership newcomers, Erik Riss and Danny Ayres, join Auty for this year’s bid for the top.
Due to fixture clashes, the Lions were without Josh Auty and captain Danny King who were riding for their Championship clubs.
To replace the missing riders, spectators saw the return of last year’s captain Nicolai Klindt and also Lasse Bjerre.
The Lions travel not too far for the first away meeting of the season to the reigning champions, the Wolverhampton Wolves on Monday evening.
On Saturday 8, the Lions will be back home and hosting three-time champions, the Poole Pirates.
